Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani’s Agent Confirms Dave Roberts’ Comments Were Non-Issue in Free Agency
Remember when Dave Roberts’ comments about meeting with then-free agent Shohei Ohtani were supposed to ruin the Dodgers’ chances of signing him?
It was always a non-issue when it came to where Ohtani decided he wanted to spend the rest of his career. Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, confirmed that to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“Doc swallowed an honest pill that day. There was nothing wrong with it at all. As you can see, it sure didn’t have an effect, did it?”
Nez Balelo, Shohei Ohtani’s agent, via USA Today
While reports indicated Ohtani’s camp would hold any public notice of a meeting against a team, that may have been more to keep the privacy of his decision.
This was a major life decision for Ohtani, and he wanted to make sure that he got it right. The reason for his requesting privacy might simply have been to keep swarms of media and fans away from his meetings with teams, wherever and whenever they took place.
“They even laughed at the uproar caused when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts candidly revealed at the winter meetings that the Dodgers and Ohtani had a private meeting at Dodger Stadium, remembering a published report that anything coming publicly from a team would be used against them.”
Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today
Roberts’ comments were never meant to cause harm. He was asked a question, and just wanted to be honest in his response. He should be praised for having the courage to acknowledge that the team met with Ohtani — a bare minimum acknowledgment.
Roberts has made mistakes during his tenure as the Dodgers manager, but that’s true of every manager. Under Roberts, the Dodgers have been competitive and relevant each season, including last year when he had arguably his best managerial year. His .630 winning percentage is the highest in AL/NL history.
Ohtani always felt destined to become a member of the Dodgers, and some comments a few days after the meeting were never going to hurt their chances. Roberts wouldn’t hurt the team in that manner, even if it sent the front office into a panic.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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